Phlox plant named ‘Florphfaro’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Phlox  plant named ‘Florphfaro’, characterized by its deep purplish-pink colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit, is disclosed.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Phlox subulata.

Variety denomination: ‘Florphfaro’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant botanically known as Phlox subulata and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Florphfaro’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Quedlinburg, Germany during April 2008. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Phlox cultivars that are early to flower with attractive flower color.

The new Phlox cultivar is the result of open-pollination. The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar is ‘McDaniel's Cushion’, not patented, characterized by its deep purplish-pink colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and moderately vigorous, prostrate growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar is unknown. The new cultivar was discovered and selected as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated open-pollination during April 2009 in a controlled environment in Quedlinburg, Germany.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since April 2009 in Quedlinburg, Germany has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Florphfaro’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant:

-   -   1. Deep purplish-pink colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in having a more mounded growth habit and smaller flower size.

Of the many commercially available Phlox cultivars, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Early Spring Dark Pink’, not patented. However, in comparison, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Early Spring Dark Pink’ in at least the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have a lighter flower color than         plants of ‘Early Spring Dark Pink’;     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have darker purple colored spots         at the corolla tube opening than plants of ‘Early Spring Dark         Pink’; and     -   3. Plants of the new cultivar have less growth vigor than plants         of ‘Early Spring Dark Pink’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Florphfaro’. The plants were approximately 10 months old and were grown in 13 cm pots for approximately 9 months in an outdoor nursery location in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Florphfaro’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of the flowers of ‘Florphfaro’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined in April 2017 under natural light conditions in Boskoop, The Netherlands.

The following descriptions and measurements describe approximately 10-month old plants produced from cuttings from stock plants and grown in an outdoor nursery location in Hendrik-Ido-Ambacht, The Netherlands under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown in 13 cm pots utilizing a soilless growth medium for approximately 9 months. During this period the maximum temperatures ranged from 92° F. to 68° F. (33.3° C. to 20° C.) and the minimum temperatures ranged from 19° F. to 29° F. (−7.2° C. to −1.7° C.). Measurements and numerical values represent averages of typical plants.

-   Botanical classification: Phlox subulata cultivar Florphfaro. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘McDaniel's Cushion’, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Unknown. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 12 to 14 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 42 to 49             days.         -   Root description.—Slightly fibrous, non-fleshy, thin, 159C             in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branched, dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Commercial crop time.—Approximately 5 to 6 months from a             rooted cutting to finish in a 13 cm pot.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Herbaceous perennial,             moderately vigorous, mounded-spreading habit.         -   Hardiness.—USDA Zone 4a (−30° F. to −25° F./−34.4° C. to             −31.7° C.).         -   Size.—Height: Approximately 9.8 cm. Width: Approximately             34.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Low to moderate basal branching.         -   Branch.—Quantity: Approximately 24. Shape: Rounded.             Strength: Strong. Length to base of inflorescence:             Approximately 6.3 cm. Diameter: Approximately 2.0 mm. Length             of central internode: Approximately 5.0 mm. Texture:             Moderately glandular pubescent. Color of young stems: 145A.             Color of mature stems: Closest to but more grey than 152D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   General description.—Quantity of leaves per main branch:             Approximately 26. Fragrance: None. Form: Simple.             Arrangement: Opposite.         -   Leaves.—Shape: Narrowly lanceolate, slightly recurved.             Margin: Entire, ciliate. Apex: Acute. Base: Broadly cuneate,             sessile. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Length of mature leaf:             Approximately 1.9 cm. Width of mature leaf: Approximately             2.5 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous. Texture of lower             surface: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of young foliage:             143B with venation of 143B. Color of lower surface of young             foliage: 148A with venation of 144B. Color of upper surface             of mature foliage: Darker than 143A with venation of darker             than 143A, occasionally tined with 187A. Color of lower             surface of mature foliage: 146B with venation of 144B,             occasionally tinted with 187A. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Florphfaro’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions blooming in early spring.         -   Lastingness of individual flower on the plant.—Approximately             7 to 10 days. -   Inflorescence description:     -   -   General description.—Type: Cyme, self-cleaning. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 250. Fragrance: Moderately sweet.             Height: Approximately 5.1 cm. Width: Approximately 5.1 cm.             Quantity of fully open flowers per inflorescence:             Approximately 5.         -   Peduncle.—Strength: Strong. Aspect: Primary erect, axillary             acute angle to stem. Length of primary: Approximately             2.0 cm. Diameter of primary: Approximately 1.5 mm. Length of             axillary: Approximately 7.0 mm. Diameter of axillary:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately pubescent. Color:             183B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Single.         -   Bud.—Rate of opening: Generally takes 3 to 5 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Ellipsoid to obovoid.             Length: Approximately 1.4 cm. Diameter: Approximately             4.0 mm. Color: 70B, immature calyx colored 200B, tips             colored 146B.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Salverform. Aspect: Facing upright and             outward. Length: Approximately 1.9 cm. Diameter:             Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5, lower half of petals fused into a             narrow tube. Shape: Obovate. Margin: Entire. Apex:             Emarginate, forming two lobes each having obtuse apex.             Length of free portion: Approximately 1.0 cm. Width:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Color of upper surface when first             open: N74C, with two small spots of 79B at corolla tube             opening. Color of lower surface when first open: N74C. Color             of upper surface when fully open: N74C, with two small spots             of 79B to 79C at corolla tube opening. Color of lower             surface when fully open: NN74D.         -   Corolla tube.—Length: Approximately 1.1 cm. Diameter at             distal end: Approximately 2.0 mm. Diameter at proximal end:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner and outer surfaces:             Glabrous. Color of inner surface: N82B. Color of outer             surface: 86D, transitioning to N77B towards the base.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Campanulate. Length: Approximately 8.0 mm.             Diameter: Approximately 5.0 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5, base fused. Shape: Linear.             Apex: Narrow apiculate. Length: Approximately 7.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of inner surface: Glabrous.             Texture of outer surface: Moderately pubescent with very             short glandular hairs. Color of inner surface: 137A. Color             of outer surface: Darker than 197A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Strong, flexible. Aspect: Primary erect,             axillary acute angle to peduncle. Length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Diameter: Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture: Moderately             pubescent with very short glandular hairs. Color: 183B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 5 per             flower. Stamen length: Approximately 8.0 mm. Anther shape:             Oblong, basifixed. Anther color: 156D. Pollen amount:             Sparse. Pollen color: 14A. Gynoecium: Pistil quantity: 1 per             flower. Pistil length: Approximately 6.0 mm. Stigma shape:             Cleft, three-parted. Stigma color: 153D. Style length:             Approximately 5.0 mm. Style color: 154D. Ovary color: 143A. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Phlox has not been observed. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Phlox plant named ‘Florphfaro’, substantially as herein illustrated and described. 